9/11 Living Memorial Plaza
{{short description|Israeli monument in the Arazim Valley of Jerusalem}}
{{Infobox monument
| name = 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza
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| image = Twin Towers Memorial in Israel.jpg
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| caption = Cenotaph of the complex: an American flag morphing into a flame of remembrance
| location = West Jerusalem, Israel
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| designer = Eliezer Weishoff
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| material = Granite, bronze, aluminum
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| dedicated =
| open = 12 November 2009
| restore =
| dismantled =
| dedicated_to = Victims of the September 11 attacks
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| coordinates = {{coord|31|48|24|N|35|10|44|E|region:IL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=October 2023}}
The 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza ({{langx|he|האנדרטה לזכר קרבנות אסון מגדלי התאומים}}) consists of an Israeli cenotaph surrounded by a larger complex near Ramot, Jerusalem. It was built on {{Convert|5|acre}} of land, having been completed in 2009, and had been designed by Israeli artist Eliezer Weishoff to honour the victims of the September 11 attacks, which were carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001.
Construction
File:911MemorialEmekHaArazimSept202022 01.jpg
The cenotaph measures 30 feet and is made of granite, bronze, and aluminum. It takes the form of an American flag, waving and transforming into a flame at the tip. A piece of melted metal from the ruins of the Twin Towers forms part of the base on which the monument rests. A glass pane over the metal facilitates viewing. The names of the victims, including five Israeli citizens, are embedded on the metal plate and placed on the circular wall. The monument is strategically located within view of Jerusalem's main cemetery, Har HaMenuchot.
The folded part of the flag is reminiscent of the collapse of the towers in a cloud of dust. The flag morphs into a six-meter-high memorial flame representative of a torch.{{cite web| title =The 9/11 Twin Towers Memorial| url=http://www.kkl.org.il/eng/tourism-and-recreation/forests-and-parks/jeruslem-park.aspx| access-date =February 4, 2014 |publisher=Jewish National Fund}}{{cite web| title =Monument: September 11 attacks| url=http://www.nrg.co.il/online/55/ART2/048/961.html| access-date =February 4, 2014 |work=nrg.org}} It is the first and only monument outside of the United States which lists the names of the nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks.{{cite web| title =9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem| url =http://www.jnf.org/work-we-do/our-projects/tourism-recreation/911-living-memorial-in.html| access-date =February 4, 2014 |publisher=Jewish National Fund}}
= Inauguration (2009) =
The cenotaph was designed by award-winning artist Eliezer Weishoff. It was commissioned by the Jewish National Fund (JNF/KKL) at a cost of ₪ 10 million ($2 million).{{cite news| title =Jerusalem to dedicate first 9/11 memorial with names outside U.S. | url =http://www.haaretz.com/jerusalem-to-dedicate-first-9-11-memorial-with-names-outside-u-s-1.4646| access-date =February 4, 2014 |work=Haaretz}} The inauguration ceremony was held on 12 November 2009 with representation from the US Ambassador to Israel, James B. Cunningham, members of the Israeli Cabinet and legislature, the families of victims and others.
Commemorations
The 2013 memorial for the 9/11 attacks was commemorated at Living Memorial Plaza. Families of victims and diplomats attended the event. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel B. Shapiro commented during the ceremony: "Here, at this painfully beautiful memorial site, we are a reminder to everyone that we, Americans and Israelis, stand together in a spirit of solidarity and commitment to the future."{{cite web|title=Commemoration Ceremony for 9/11 Victims at the Living Memorial near Jerusalem|url=https://www.kkl-jnf.org/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/september-2013/commemoration-9-11-jerusalem/|date=September 12, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010050402/http://www.kkl.org.il/eng/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/september-2013/commemoration-9-11-jerusalem/|archive-date=October 10, 2013|url-status=live|publisher=KKL-JNF}}
In Israeli society
Israel has issued postage stamps with the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza pictured, as a tribute to the World Trade Center victims. Also, Israel Coins and Medals Corp issues medal for 9/11 victims with the image of Living Memorial.{{cite web| title =Jerusalem's Tribute To WTC Victims| url =http://www.israelpost.co.il/mall.nsf/prodsbycode/316?OpenDocument&L=EN| access-date =February 4, 2014 |work=Israel Post}}{{cite web |title=Living Memorial |url=http://morag.artvision.co.il/vault/P-different01/the_twins_statue.pps |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005153219/http://www.2go2.co.il/vault/P-different01/the_twins_statue.pps |archive-date=5 October 2015 |access-date=February 4, 2014 |work=morag.artvision}}
Additional monuments
Following the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, the Jewish National Fund and JNF-USA erected a stone plaque listing the names of the 11 victims of that attack next to the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza. In February 2019, Pittsburgh mayor Bill Peduto visited the synagogue memorial and planted an olive tree beside it "as a symbol of peace and continuity".{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/GreenIsrael/Pittsburgh-Mayor-Visits-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-Memorial-in-Israel-581966|title=Pittsburgh mayor visits Tree of Life Synagogue memorial in Israel|author=KKL-JNF|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=February 28, 2019|access-date=April 6, 2019|archive-date=April 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406023535/https://www.jpost.com/GreenIsrael/Pittsburgh-Mayor-Visits-Tree-of-Life-Synagogue-Memorial-in-Israel-581966|url-status=dead}}
Gallery
File:911MemorialEmekHaArazimSept202022 03.jpg|The memorial from above
File:T'win Towers memorial in Israel-Names of the Victims.jpg|Names of 9/11 victims
File:Twin Towers Memorial Near Jerusalem.jpg|General view of the monument in front of the Har HaMenuchot
File:Inscription on the Twin Towers Memorial in Israel.jpg|Inscription on the monument
File:Twin Towers Memorial, Israel.jpg|General view of the monument
File:PikiWiki Israel 29906 Geography of Israel.JPG|Part of waving American flag
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130929223336/http://www.meva.co.il/index.php/community/2076-2010-04-21-07-15-42 Monument to victims in the heart of Arazim Valley]
- [http://morag.artvision.co.il/vault/P-different01/the_twins_statue.pps Presentation of Living Memorial]{{Dead link|date=October 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- [http://www.kkl.org.il/eng/about-kkl-jnf/green-israel-news/september-2013/commemoration-9-11-jerusalem/ Commemoration Ceremony for 9/11 Victims at the Living Memorial near Jerusalem]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRPYTiN5Oso 9/11 "Living Memorial" in the Jerusalem Forest Hills Dedicated @ Youtube]
{{Israel–United States relations|state=collapsed}}
Category:2009 establishments in Israel
Category:Buildings and structures in Jerusalem
Category:Memorials for the September 11 attacks